Maroa Sesquicentennial site- celebrating 150 years 1854-2004 with year long events

Maroa Illinois: A Great place to call home

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Welcome to The official web site of the Maroa Sesquicentennial celebration. There will be a variety of events celebrating the 1854 founding of the town what will climax September 17, 18, 19, 2004 on the streets of Maroa.

Long before Meriwether Lewis and Clarke started on their adventure up the Missouri river in 1802, Adventurers Fr. Jacques Marquette, and Louis Joliet traveled from what is now known as Lake Michigan down the Illinois river, and on the Mississippi river. Back in 1672, little was known about the middle lands. Both men took a lot of notes, and made maps of their travels through hostile territories. As they went south down the Mississippi river, they knew they were truly risking life, and assuming they were near the opening to the pacific ocean, they turned their birch bark canoes around near (what is now) north Arkansas, and returned home. On the return journey, Fr Marquette became very ill, and one year later, died.

Louis Joliet continued explorations of the great lakes area, and nearly lost his life in a canoe accident 2 years later. He did loose all of his notes and maps he had taken during his travel with Fr. Marquette. So the only map of that travel is the one seen below.

Why is that important to us? Because it has the name "Maroa" in a center section to the east of the Illinois river. It is the first time Maroa was on a map. However, it took almost 200 years later to establish a town by such a name in the 'new territories'.

Come learn and celebrate with us, as we discover how it is certain that Abraham Lincoln certainly was in town (as a lawyer for the Illinois Central Rail Road). There are numerous documented times when he had a case in Clinton, Illinois, and then in Decatur, and certainly passed through Maroa. There are also some travels where there was a day in between the engagements, and he likely stayed in Maroa at one of the hotels.

What other famous people came through? Come and find out and be one of them!

The big event

Sesquicentennial Maroa September 17, 18, 19, 2004

Friday, September 17, 2004

Pray for nice weather

Opening Ceremonies 6:00 p.m. Stage 1

Welcome by Mayor Agee, Karen Halicki, Gynni Burnett
Sesquicentennial logo designer Honor Chelsea Zombro.
Introduce Prince/Princess
Introduce Queen and King
Brothers of the Brush Contest
Newest Married couple from 1954 Centennial.
Newest Married Couple in 2004.

Carnival 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m. Main street

6:30 Hypnotist Daryl Corrington Stage 2

6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Maroa's 150 years pictures Display at M&M Cafe

7:00 p.m. Maroa-Forsyth High School Homecoming Football Game

8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Modern Cowboyz for Alumni Dance Stage 1(after the game)

8:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m. David Lee DJ Stage 2

Food Vendors

Tram to shuttle from school to Main street- sponsored by Bill Mitchell

In Main Sesquicentennial tent
Information
Souvenirs
Large Map Pin marks spot where you are from
Old Pictures, Yearbooks, Video playing

Saturday, September 18, 2004

Memories in the making.

5 K run 8:00 a.m. Stage 2

Parade with the High School Homecoming 10:00 a.m. Streets of Maroa (see Map)

Arts & Craft Show 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Main street

Open house tours of New and Old High Schools 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. School

Kids tent 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Rosie Posie Clown doing balloon Sculptures Main street

Tractor Show 11:00 a.m. Main Steet-Walnut

Car Show (sponsored by Maroa Fireman) 11:30-4:00 Main street

Waterloo German Band 11:00 - 12:30 Stage 1

Fashion Show 11:30 Stage 2

Kids tent 11:30 a.m. Bike Safety Main street

Carnival Rides and food 12:00 Noon - 11:00 p.m. Main street

Maroa's 150 years Picture Display Noon - 8:00 pm M&M Cafe

Frontier Villlage: Noon - 4:00 p.m.

1800's Crafts Grade School Grounds
Quilt Show Grade School Classrooms
Antique Show Grade School Classrooms
Historic Memorabilia Grade school Classrooms

Maroa Grade School Auction-1:00 p.m. at Middle School

Night Moves band (oldies) 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Stage 1

Kids tent 1:00 p.m. Story Time with Maroa Library Main street

Kids Tractor Pulls (sponsored by FFA) 1:00 pm Walnut Street

Kids tent 1:30 p.m. Kids contests Main street
Jacks, Marbles, Checkers, Hula Hoop, Hop Scotch, Bubble Gum blowing.

Russ Howe 2:15 - 3:45 p.m. Stage 2

Cemetery walk (sponsored by Friends of the Library) 2, 3, & 4 Maroa Cemetery

Husband calling Contest 2:00 pm Stage 2

Cake Walk 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Christian Church

Kids tent 3:00 p.m. Story Time with Maroa Library Main street

ATV Rodeo 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Walnut Street

Kids parade (Line up behind M&M at 3:20) 3:35 pm Main street
decorate your bike, scooter, skateboard, trike, rollerblades, yourself stroller- ribbon and prize

Kiss a Pig Contest 3:45 pm Stage 2

DJ music and Dance 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Stage 2

Kids tent 4:00 p.m. Cookie Walk Main street

Country Cloggers 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Stage 1

Pork chop Dinner 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Old Grade School Gym

Kids tent 5:00 p.m. Bubbles, Coloring Pages, Jump Rope, Sand Box Main street

Bossie Bingo 5:00 p.m. Walnut Street

Oldywed game 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Stage 1

Ray Lyttle and Itchy Pickles 7-10 Stage 1

Bingo for prizes 7:00 p.m. M&M Cafe

C-4 Band 8:00 -11:00 p.m. Stage 2

Fireworks 9:00 p.m. High School

In Main Sesquicentennial tent
Information
Souvenirs
Large Map Pin marks spot where you are from
Old Pictures, Yearbooks, Video playing

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Collectors items in the making.

Community Church Service 9:00 a.m. Stage 2

Art and Crafts Show 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Main street

Chicken Dinner 11:00 a.m. Christian Church Grounds

Kids tent (at Kid's Area) 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Main street

Wesley Wranglers 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Stage 2

Birthday cake Social Noon M&M Café

Maroa 150 years picture display Noon - 6:00 p.m. M&M café

Antique Appraisals Noon Grade School Gym
(think PBS Antiques Road Show)

Frontier Villlage: Noon - 4:00 p.m.

1800's Crafts Grade School Grounds
Quilt Show Grade School Classrooms
Antique Show Grade School Classrooms
Historic Memorabilia Grade school Classrooms

Carnival rides and food Noon - 6:00 p.m. Main street

Animal Show Noon - 5:00 p.m. Grade School Grounds

Hypnotist Daryl Corrington 12:15 - 1:30 Stage 1

City Picture 1:00 p.m. Main street

4-Given band 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Stage 2

King Family 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Stage 1

Old Tyme Baseball game 2:00 p.m. Old Grade School

Country Thunder band 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Stage 1

Nathan Price 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Stage 2

Sharp Karate 3:00 p.m. Kids Area

Porta Potty Judging 4:00 p.m. Stage 1 New Wrestling 2:00 p.m. Main street

In Main Sesquicentennial tent
Information
Souvenirs
Large Map Pin marks spot where you are from
Old Pictures, Yearbooks, Video playing

Closing ceremonies 6:00 p.m. Stage 2

Community Picnic: The Catered Chicken Fry at the Christian Church $5 adults...$3 children. Advance tickets recommended limited number of tickets sold that day. Tickets available at Fine Things, Coastal, Sun Spot, Christian Church or any Christian Church member!

Old-Tyme baseball
Don't miss the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels in 1800's uniform shirts take on our own Sesquicentennial sluggers. Grab a spot on the bleachers, an bag of popcorn and let your kids see how baseball used to be played!

Porta-Potty Decorating Contest
Now how many families or businesses can say they have adopted a porta-potty? Or decorated one? Here's your chance. Four have already been spoken for, but we still have four available. Prizes given. Call Karen Halicki to adopt yours today!

This is the Marquette Map that shows Maroa.

*Maroa Sesquicentennial Festival Friday, September 17, 2004*
150 Stage Walnut & Main 6p-Opening Ceremony King & Queen Youngest & Oldest Brothers of Brush Newest Married couple 1954 Newest Married couple 2004 Introduce past Mayors 8p-11 Modern Cowboyz	Main Street Attractions 6p GemSociety 6p-12 Carnival Arts & Craft Booths food 6p-10 Souvenirs	Topflight Stage Locust & Main 6:30p-7:45 Hypnotist Darrel Corrington 8p-12 David Lee DJ	Additional Attractions 5p-12:30 Transportation Tram running all night! Use it for easy travel 7p Homecoming Football 6p-10 Picture Display M&M
Maroa Sesquicentennial Festival Saturday, September 18, 2004
10a Parade 11a-12:30 Waterloo German Band 1p-4 Night Moves 4:30p - 5:30 Country Cloggers 5:30p-6:30 Oldywed Game 7p-10 - Ray Lytle and Itchy Pickles Band 9p Fireworks- at High school	10a Parade 11a Arts & Craft 11a-11 Souvenirs 11a-1 Clown & Balloon Sculpture Kids 11a-2 Tractor Show 11:30a Bike Safety 11:30a Car Show 1p-1:30 Story time Kids 1p-3 Kids Tractor Pull Walnut 1:30p-3 Kid Contests Kids Bubble Gum blowing, Jacks, Hop Scotch, Hula Hoop, Marbles, Checkers 3p-3:15 Story time Library Kids 3p-5 ATV Rodeo Walnut 3:30p Kids Parade-Main Street (behind M&M at 3:20) 4p-5 Cookie walk Kids 5p Bossie Bingo 5p-7 Bubbles, Coloring pages, Jump Rope, Sand Box Kids 7p- Bingo at M&M 9p Fireworks- at High school	8a Start 5K run 10a Parade 11:30a-12:30 Fashion Contest (open invite) 12:45p-1:45 Decatur Chordsman 2p-2:30 Husband Call (open invite) 2:30p-3:45 Russ Howe 3:45 Pig Kissing 4p-7:30 DJ Music 8p -11 C-4 Band 9p Fireworks- at High school	10a Parade 10a Gem Society 10a 1800 Crafts 11a-mid Transport Tram 11a-12:30 New High school Open house 12p-11 Carnival East Main 10a-10 Picture Display at M&M 12p-4 quilts vintage clothing, Maroa Memories Maroa Grade 1:00 p Auction old school items Middle school 2p Cemetery Walk cemetery (use tram) 2p-4 Cake Walk Christian Church 3p Cemetery Walk cemetery (use tram) 4p Cemetery Walk cemetery (use tram) 5p-7 Pork Chop Dinner Old Grade Gym 9p Fireworks- at High school
Maroa Sesquicentennial Festival Sunday, September 19, 2004
12:15p-1:30 Hypnotist Daryl Corrington 1p City Picture Main Street 1:45p-2:45 King Family 3p-6 Country Thunder	8:30a-6 Transport Tram 11a-1 Chicken Lunch (tickets at Christian Church) 10a - 6 Art & Craft Booths & Food 10a-6 Souvenirs 10a-6 Picture Display M&M 11a-6 Kids Tent 12:00p Birthday Cake 1p City Picture Main Street 2p New Wrestling 3p Sharp Karate 3p-4 Kids Games Behind Maroa Grade	9a-10:30 Community Church Service All invited 11a -12:30 Wesley Wranglers 1p City Picture Main Street 1p-2:30 4-Given Band 3p-6 Nathan Price	10a-6 Inflatable Carnival 10a -6:1800 crafts 10a -6Antique show 11a Community Picnic 12p Appraisal show (Antique Road Show) Maroa Grade l2p-4 quilts vintage clothing, Maroa Memories Maroa Grade 12p-5 Animal Show Old Grade 1p City Picture Main Street 2p Old Tyme Baseball game with Old Tyme rules Old Grade Diamond
Sunday 6:00 p.m. Walnut Street Stage Closing ceremony:Time capsule, Tree dedication 4-H, Porta Potty Winner, 50 / 50 raffle winner, Thank you